STRATFORD WINS AGAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1930, Page 4

STRATFORD WINS AGAIN

STAR BACKS’ GREAT FIGHT. GAME OF FINE TACKLING. | By dogged tactics, aided by spasmodic ! back movements, the Stratford forwards | defeated Star, whose main penetrating force lay in its fast back line, by 11 points (two tries, one converted and a penalty goal) to thro (one. try) at Stratford. Taylor and E. Kivell both played soundly for* Stratford, but the only brilliant movement was that of Owen and Bublitz when the former dashed through the opposition to score, i Kivell, Waiter and Bond led a toiling i pack which dominated play and kept ; Star penned in its territory most of the | time. Despite the fact that it was ' beaten the lighter Star team showed I surprisingly good form, the backs csj pecially throwing the ball about with , case. Its tackling, too, was excellent 1 for though the team was hard pressed ;it refused to allow the Stratford men I to go far. Sampson and Kinsella were ! the two best backs on the field, though 1 the whole back line played excellently. • In the forward weight told, Brewster and Shaw, however, being good in the > loose. • i Star kicked off against the sun and (Stratford hooked from the tight, Bublitz I sending his backs off.' Grace failed to (take his pass cleanly. E. Walter rei covered and made a bold bid for the line. Star forwards, led by Brewster, retaliated with a sweeping rush to. half way. Brewster came away from the serum i again arid Star pressed and its opponents had to force. Stratford s swung into line -but E. Walter failed to take °a pass. From a serum all Stratford’s backs handled and after a sterling dash Taylor was downed near the line. Star forced but found Stratford ! napping in a line out shortly afteiwaids and hastily gave the-backs the ball, which travelled to Sampson, who was caught when cutting iri. Stratford attacked and Star had to force. Collins .'had-a. free kick ;at goal and - Star forgot to force, being; left in a dangerous position for a moment while Stratford at■tacked in full ’aYray.y Godfrey fumbled ’ badly when the. Stratford, forwards were descending on him and then held on, giving Collins a chance at goal. The ball went wide. Stratford backs were away in Star’s 25 but Sampson inter ccpted beautifully and passed to Lealand,’ who was well backed up by his forwards. From close work in the coiner Taylor almost scored. A Stratford rush culminated in a fine dash by E. Waltei, who was, however, stopped short. Strat- ' ford backs were making substantial bids ' for the line but they went down like tin 1 soldiers before Star’s tackling. The first i points came from a free kick by Collins ! after- two. ineffectual shots at goal. ! On resuming Stratford pressed and j Taylor twice almost scored. Walter gave i Kivell a chance and he scored in the corner. Collins added the two points. ' Bublitz eluded the forwards and Owen I zig-zagged his way until..he was tackled. I Billing came through to half way and ! shortly afterwards, made a dogged run ' up the line. Owen and Kivell came back | and play brightened. ’ A pretty piece of (play resulted in Star scoring from its i own territory. The ba'cks received and Samnson raced down the line and passed to Kinsella, who side-stepped and, eluding two Stratford men, scored in the .corner. Clegg failed to copveyt. Clegg broke through'. Sarrinsoii ’ rcObi'vihg and passin" to Brewster in ahbther snarkhng run. Kivell with Star chasing, him bnllocked his way to the line, where Star

forced. Clegg sent Sampson and Kinsella off on one of their bright runs, the two players interchanging until Sampson infringed. McLeod retired with an injured leg and Way took his place. Bublitz gave Owen a chance when Star’s ba -ks were waiting and he made a pretty run through to score. Collins could not convert. Each side alternated in back attacks and the game ended:— Stratford , 11 Star 8 Mr. A. E. O’Sullivan was the referee.